Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Cilantro Dip

Baked Coconut Shrimp with Pineapple Cilantro Dip

adapted from Every Day with Rachael Ray August 2010

No one really knows the origins of crunchy, breaded coconut shrimp, but it is thought to have originated in the tiki bar culture, which was all the rage in the United States after World War II. This is when access to tropical produce like coconuts and pineapples became an everyday thing.

Coconut shrimp is usually deep fried but this recipe oven bakes which lightens an old favorite.

Makes 2 servings                                                        4 WW pts / serving

2 Tbsp. + 2 tsp. shredded unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp. panko
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. rice flour
2 egg whites
1/2 tsp. coconut rum
6 extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails left on
4 oz. fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
1/2 tsp. sambal oelek

1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 Tbsp. cilantro leaves

1. Preheat the oven to 325F.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment; Spread the coconut flakes on the baking sheet.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 3 minutes; Stir with a spatula.
4. Cook an additional 3 minutes or until golden brown; Transfer the coconut to a mini food processor; Finely chop the coconut; Transfer the coconut to a shallow bowl.
5. Add the panko and season with salt and pepper.
6. Place the flour in another shallow bowl.
7. Increase the oven temperature to 450°.
8. Place a rack on the baking sheet.
9. In a medium bowl, whisk the egg whites until foamy; Stir in the coconut extract.
10. Coat the shrimp in the flour, shaking off any excess.
11. Dip in the egg white mixture to coat completely.
12. Toss in the coconut-panko mixture.
13. Place on a wire rack set on a baking sheet.
14. Bake until golden and the shrimp are cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
15. Meanwhile, put the pineapple, sambal, garlic powder and cilantro in the bowl of a mini food processor until coarsely chopped.
16. Season to taste with with salt and pepper.
17. Serve the shrimp with the pineapple-cilantro dip.

Enjoy!

Caribbean Inspired Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

 Caribbean Inspired Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

adapted from Cooking Light Annual Recipes 2015

 This is a quick marinade with all the ingredients for jerk chicken but doesn't taste like the jerk chicken we had in Jamaica. It has some heat to the dish. I used a serrano pepper in place of a scotch bonnet which is traditional. If you prefer less spice use a jalapeno or poblano.

served on a bed of Cauliflower Rice with Scallions, Cilantro & Pigeon Peas with Sautéed Spinach & Mushrooms

Makes 2 servings                                                  1 WW Blue points / serving

1/2 + 1/3 cup sliced scallions, divided

2 Tbsp. lime juice, divided

4 tsp. water, divided

1 tsp. Truvia brown sugar blend

1 tsp. dried thyme leaves

1 1/2 tsp. soy sauce

1 1/2 tsp. minced ginger

1/2 tsp. ground allspice

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cloves, garlic, crushed

1 bay leaf, crumbled

1 serrano pepper, chopped

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3 slices canned or fresh pineapple

Cooking spray

1/2 cup diced bell pepper, preferably red, orange or yellow

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

1. Place 1 cup of sliced scallions, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 Tbsp. water, Truvia, thyme, soy sauce, ginger, allspice, black pepper, garlic and bay leaf in a food processor; process until almost smooth.
2. In a sip-top bag add the chicken and the marinade. Marinade in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour; turning occasionally.
3. Preheat the oven to 425F or preheat a grill.
4. Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and allow to sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.
5. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.
6. If cooking in the oven, sear the pineapple in a skillet coated with cooking spray until browned in places, about 3 minutes / side.
7. If cooking on a grill, sear the pineapple on a grill rack coated with cooking spray for about 3 minutes per side or until lightly charred.
8. When the pineapple has cooled, chop and place in a bowl.
9. Add 1/3 cup scallions, 1 Tbsp. lime juice, 1 1/2 tsp. water, bell pepper and 1/4 tsp. Kosher salt; toss to combine.
10. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt. Place chicken on a rack coated with cooking spray and bake in preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until cooked through; or grill until cooked through.
11. Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving with pineapple salsa.

Enjoy!

Pineapple-Mango Salad

Pineapple-Mango Salad

adapted from Weight Watchers' Five Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook (2006)

Makes 2 servings                                            0 WW Blue points / serving

1 cup pineapple chunks, canned or fresh

1/2 cup cubed mango

1/4 cup red bell pepper, chopped

1 clementine

1 Tbsp. finely chopped jalapeno

1 tsp. sugar substitute

1. Place the pineapple, mango, and bell pepper in a bowl and set aside.
2. Grate 1/2 tsp. rind from the clementine. Add to the bowl.
3. Peel the clementine and cut out the sections; add to the bowl.
4. Squeeze out 1 Tbsp. of juice from the membranes; add to the bowl.
5. Add the jalapeno and sugar substitute to the bowl.
6. Toss gently before serving.

Enjoy!

Pineapple Hibiscus Cocktail

I bought some hibiscus flowers for an aqua fresca but the smallest quantity I could get was a pound. Hence I am looking for hibiscus recipes. On this beautiful summer day, what better way to spend it than sipping a cocktail on the deck with my honey!

Pineapple Hibiscus Cocktail
adapted from Bon Appetit May 2016

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp sugar substitute
1/2 cup water
1/2 20 oz can pineapple slices, quartered
2 Tbsp white wine vinegar

2 Tbsp hibiscus flowers
6 oz boiling water

1/2 jalapeno, sliced into rounds
3 mint sprigs
1/2 lime, thinly sliced
1 cup good quality tequila - We like Avion Silver
1/2 cup lime juice

Bring the sugar substitute and the 1 cup of water to a boil and cook, stirring frequently until the sugar substitute is dissolved. Add pineapple, bring back up to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the mixture to steep for 30 minutes to infuse the pineapple flavor.
Strain into a bowl, reserving the pineapple. Stir in the vinegar. Set aside

Place the hibiscus flowers in the boiling water and let steep for 10 minutes. Strain the tea and set aside.

Reserve 3 slices of jalapeno and 4 pices of pineapple for serving. Combine the mint, lime slices, tequila, lime juice, tea, pineapple simple syrup, remaining jalapeno slices and pineapple into a pitcher. Chill until cold, about 30 minutes.

Serve in ice filled rocks glasses garnished with reserved pineapple and jalapeno slices.

Grilled Tuna with a Tropical Salad

Continuing to take recipes and converting them to be even healthier. This on was adapted from Cooking Light September 2010 by eliminating the olive oil and using all fresh fruit rather than pre-sliced. It also called for cilantro of which I am not a fan so I substituted parsley. 

Grilled Tuna with a Tropical Salad
4 cups packaged chopped lettuce 
2 cups chopped fresh pineapple  
1 cup chopped mango 
1/3 cup chopped onion  
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice  
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice 
2 teaspoons vegetable stock  
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper  

4 4-ounce tuna steaks
Cooking spray  

Combine the lettuce, pineapple, mango and onion in a large bowl, set aside. In a small bowl whisk together parsley, juices, stock, salt and pepper. Dress the salad and toss to combine.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Spray tuna lightly with cooking spreay and season with salt an pepper.

Coat pan with cooking spray. Add tuna to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side for medium - well. Arrange salad on plates and top with tuna.

GRILLED HOISIN MARINATED PORK WITH PINEAPPLE GRILLED GREEN ONION RELISH - Adapted from Bobby Flay

HOISIN MARINATED PORK WITH PINEAPPLE GRILLED GREEN ONION RELISH

1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 (1 pound) boneless pork tenderloin
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine hoisin, vinegar, soy, garlic and sesame oil in a small bowl. Place the tenderloin in a medium shallow baking dish, pour over the marinade and marinate in the refrigerate overnight. Preheat the grill. Remove
the pork from the marinade, removing any excess. Season with salt and pepper and cook in preheated oven for 10 minutes; turn over cook for 10 more minutes or until instant read thermometer reads 155F. Cover and let reast 10 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings



PINEAPPLE AND GRILLED ONION RELISH

2 green onions
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 can pineapple, diced
1 small jalapeno, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoons coarsely chopped parsley
1 tsp dried cilantro

Preheat grill. Brush the green onions with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill the onions until almost cooked though and finely slice. Place the onions, pineapple, jalapeno in a medium bowl and stir to combine. Add the lime juice, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil, parsley and cilantro. Serve at room temperature.

Serve pork with salsa.

Steamed fiddleheads are seared as an accompaniment.
2007 Big White Chardonnay complimented the meal well.